PALMYRA—The town will have to get by with $200,000 less this year, but property owners are still going to pay more in taxes.

The municipal budget approved during Saturday’s town meeting will come in around $826,000 after more than $200,000 was cut during the meeting, said selectman Michael Cray.

But because only $300,000 will be taken from surplus to help offset the money that must be raised by taxes, residents will end up paying $20,000 more in property taxes than they did last year when nearly $600,000 was spent from surplus.

The figures represents about a 2.5 mil increase, Cray said. That means an extra $250 on an average $100,000 home.

The heaviest cuts came in road work, including more than $100,000 shaved from gravel work that is part of a five year improvement plan approved last year.
Residents also cut $90,000 from paving projects and $20,000 from work on Spring Hill Road.

Voters also rejected the comprehensive plan by a 34-25 margin.

Herbert Brindley (107 votes) and Priscilla Jones (119 votes) both won reelection to the board of selectmen in Friday’s voting.

Kelly Rowell was reelected to the School Administrative District 48 board of directors.

E-mail this entry to a friend